Spring actuated pinchcock



July 26, 1966 R. MARLETT 3,262,670

SPRING ACTUATED PINCHCOCK Filed Nov. 9, 1964 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,262,670 SPRING ACTUATED PINCHCOCK Russell Marlett, 1020 Redondo Drive, Tempe, Ariz. 85281 Fiied Nov. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 409,846 3 Claims. (Cl. 251-7) This invention relates to a pinchcock for closing rubber, plastic, or other deformable tubing, and more particularly to a pinchcock in which the closing pressure is supplied by a spring.

Whereas, other spring actuated pinchcocks are in current use, the spring pressure on these products is applied at the ends of the jaws of the clamps. Thus, the jaws in all of these pinchcocks operate as cantilevers. There are pinohcocks in which the pressure is applied directly over the tubing, but this pressure is applied by a screw.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a pinchcock in which the spring pressure is impressed directly over the tubing.

Another object of the present invention is to allow easy operation with one hand.

Still a further object of this invention 'is to provide a spring actuated pinchcock which can be economically manufactured in large quantities for widespread sale and distribution.

Still additional objects, benefits, and advantages of this invention will become evident from a detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the spring actuated pinchcock made according to this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the spring actuated pinchcock shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of the sliding jaw.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of the framework.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of the spring actuated pinchcock with the spring compressed and showing the placement of tubing.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, a spring actuated pinchcock made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a sliding jaw FIGURE 3 operating with a coil spring 16 under compression in a framework FIGURE 4.

The framework FIGURE 4 consists of support bar 12 recessed to receive guide tube 13, upper spring guide 14, and lower jaw 15. The framework becomes a unit by soldering, welding, or otherwise cementing the members in position as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4.

The sliding jaw FIGURE 3 consists of pressure bar 18, lower spring guide 19, guide rod 17, and hole 21. Extensions 22 and 23 on pressure bar 18 provide finger grips for moving the sliding jaw in the completed pinchcock. The sliding jaw becomes a unit by soldering, welding, or

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otherwise cementing the members in the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The spring actuated pinchcock FIGURE 1 is completed when guide rod 17 is in place in guide tube 13, lower jaw 15 is inserted in hole 21, and coil spring 16 is in place between upper spring guide 14 and lower spring guide 19.

The operation of this device will now be readily understood. By placing the thumb on the center of support bar 12, the index finger under pressure bar extension 22, and the middle finger under pressure bar extension 23, squeezing pressure can be applied to open the jaws of the pinchcock. This allows the insertion of the tubing 20 as shown in FIGURE 5. When the squeezing pressure is released the jaws will close, causing the collapse of the tubing.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing and while various changes may be made in detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus completely and fully described the invention, what is now claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A spring actuated pinchcock comprising: a framework having a top plate with a short tubular guide element and a longer guide rod element attached to said top plate to form a rigid U-shaped member and a clamping jaw secured to the free end of the longer guide element, at second clamping jaw containing a rod member for insertion in the short tubular guide element and a hole through which the longer guide rod element is inserted thus allowing said second jaw to slide restrictively between said shorter guide element and said first jaw, and spring means disposed between said top plate and second clamping jaw to force said jaws into engagement for collapsing a flexible tube received between the jaws.

2. The pinchcock according to claim 1 wherein said top plate and second clamping jaw have guide means for positioning said spring means.

3. A spring actuated pinchcock as set forth in claim 2 wherein extensions on said second clamping jaw provide finger grips for operating said jaw.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 48,421 6/1865 Matthews 2517 1,876,988 9/ 1932 Lormor 2519 2,471,623 5/ 1949 Hubbell 2517 X 2,516,657 7/1950 Spendlove 339-255 X 2,614,788 10/1952 Woodward 251-7 X WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

ISADOR WEIL, Examiner.

R. GERARD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SPRING ACTUATED PINCHCOCK COMPRISING: A FRAMEWORK HAVING A TOP PLATE WITH A SHORT TUBULAR GUIDE ELEMENT AND A LONGER GUIDE ROD ELEMENT ATTACHED TO SAID TOP PLATE TO FORM A RIGID U-SHAPED MEMBER AND A CLAMPING JAW SECURED TO THE FREE END OF THE LONGER GUIDE ELEMENT, A SECOND CLAMPING JAW CONTAINING A ROD MEMBER FOR INSERTION IN THE SHORT TUBULAR GUIDE ELEMENT AND A HOLE THROUGH WHICH THE LONGER GUIDE ROD ELEMENT IS INSERTED THUS ALLOWING SAID SECOND JAW TO SLIDE RESTRICTIVELY BETWEEN SAID SHORTER GUIDE ELEMENT AND SAID FIRST JAW, AND SPRING MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID TOP PLATE AND SECOND CLAMPING JAW TO TO FORCE SAID JAWS INTO ENGAGEMENT FOR COLLAPSING A FLEXIBLE TUBE RECEIVED BETWEEN THE JAWS. 